Erestoke Prison has been recognised nationally for the standard of education and training it gives to its inmates.

The Good Prison Award acknowledges the achievements by prisons and young offenders institutions in delivering “person-centred interventions” that improve prisoners’ chances of being integrated into society on their release.

The awards were presented at an event attended by over 80 practitioners from the prison service, criminal justice system and third sector at the Clink Restaurant, HMP High Down on November 27.

HMP Erlestoke and Shepton Mallet - the prisons were amalgamated into one organisation last year - was given the Bronze Award, the only public sector establishment to get recognised for achievement in the top three.

The prison got the nomination because of its Engagement Programme that provides support for the most challenging, disaffected prisoners – the five per cent considered unemployable - to give them the social and practical skills to allow them to prosper on their release. The judging panel were impressed with the positive impact that the prison has on offenders, their attitudes and their future opportunities of leading crime and victim free lives.

It is now recognised that Erlestoke and Shepton Mallet are among the highest performing establishments in the country. This is against a backdrop of heavy public spending cuts which has seen governor Andy Rogers reduce the budget by hundreds of thousands of pounds in the last 12 months.

Mr Rogers said: “I am delighted and very proud that once again the work of my hard-working staff in both sites has been recognised.

“We go from strength to strength as establishments where individuals who come to us are less likely to go out on release and create further victims of crime.

“We work hard to give offenders opportunities to turn their lives around. We are at the very forefront of current thinking around custodial services and rehabilitation and it is pleasing to be recognised for that from an awarding body.”